Still on Jakkee’s mind

Artist Jakkee Kongkaew shows new woodcut-print portraits of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol in the exhibition “Still in My Mind” continuing through June 10 at Ardel’s Third Place Gallery on Thonglor Soi 10. The show takes its title from that of a song composed by the late monarch, his first attempt at writing lyrics. Jakkee expresses his affection for the King using traditional woodcut techniques. Find out more at http://www.ThirdPlaceBangkok.com.

The self in Southeast Asia

Subhashok the Arts Centre is hosting “The Concept of Self: On Power, Identity and Labels”, an exhibition of work by Thai artists Alisa Chunchue, Anon Pairot, Chayanin Kwangkaew, Chulayarnnon Siriphol and Kitikun Mankit and Indonesians Antonio Sinaga, Patriot Mukmin, Theo Frids Hutabarat and Rega Ayundya Putri.

In photos, paintings, videos and installations on view from May 13 through June 17, the artists muse on macro and micro sociology in Southeast Asia that might be heralding a new cultural age. The show – a collaboration with Arcolabs and supported by the Indonesian Embassy, touches on politics, superstition, voyeurism and self-analysis.

Call (02) 662 0299 and visit the “sacbangkok” Facebook page.

No surrender at Tentacles

The gallery Tentacles inside the N22 art complex on Narathiwas Rachnakarin Road is currently showing “Defendant of Love” with the work of female artists Chomphupak Poonpol, Napatsakorn Nikornsaen, Nuttinan Phukama and Athapha Rattanaphongthara. The ladies demonstrate they have no intention of “surrendering” to gender oppression, but will instead transform the “pain” into “something acceptable, which is very ironic”. The show, comprised of video, installation, photos and paintings, has the support of the Marsi Foundation. See the “tentacles” Facebook page.

Where fairies are afoot

Known for his 2006 movie “All for Nothing”, Thai-British filmmaker-photographer Shane Bunnag has a solo exhibition at the Kathmandu Photo Gallery until June 24. “Dryopes” finds Shane among nature entities known as Mani in Greece, his childhood home. He toured sacred sites, capturing each one’s soul in long exposures of a model dancing and creating hallucinatory images. A maiden in a long black robe throws shape-shifting shadows as if some sort of dark fairy.

“Dryopes alludes to metamorphosis, the animism of antiquity, while referencing a local settlement close to where most of these images were captured,” says Shane. “Apart from one composite image, the photographs all occurred in-camera, with no adjustments later.”

Discover more at http://www.KathmanduPhotoBkk.com.